The Pahang state education department has issued an order to transfer teacher Mohd Nor Izzat Mohd Johari to a school more than 80km from his home – with immediate effect.
This took place a day before the planned protest by some school teachers under the Suara Guru-Masyarakat Malaysia (SGMM) banner, which has Mohd Nor Izzat as its working committee head.
The transfer was conveyed to Mohd Nor Izzat in a letter dated Feb 17, which he only received yesterday, and left him in shock.
“It is totally unexpected. The drastic action shows the high-handed attitude of the ministry towards teachers who are outspoken about an education policy which does not work,” said Mohd Nor Izzat when contacted yesterday.
The secondary school Arts teacher, currently teaching at a school 25km from his home at Jerantut, Pahang, added he would discuss with his lawyer whether to appeal the transfer order.
Despite the transfer, Mohd Nor Izzat confirmed that SGMM would be going ahead with the protest today in front of the Bandar Baru Bangi mosque in Selangor.
The group had earlier intended to protest at the Education Ministry in Putrajaya.
“We decided to change the venue because the ministry has instructed teachers not to protest in Putrajaya,” said Mohd Nor Izzat.
He added that his meeting with Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh last December over the PBS system bore little fruit.
Following grouses by teachers over the inaccessibility of the online database, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said earlier this month that PBS would be reviewed, though he did not commit to any specific date when it would happen.
